Improving ewe reproductive success and lamb survivability is essential for enhancing flock productivity, farm profitability, and the self-sufficiency of sheep meat and milk production. This study aimed to identify the perceived challenges to improving ewe productivity, through efficient reproduction, gestation, and reducing lamb mortality and determine if these challenges differ between countries. A 22-question survey (14 closed, 8 open-ended) was conducted in 2017 across seven countries participating in the SheepNet project (France, Ireland, Italy, Romania, Spain, UK, and Turkey). A number of press releases were circulated in each of the seven SheepNet countries making stakeholders aware of the survey and asking them to identify their challenges to improving ewe productivity through efficient reproduction, gestation and reduced lamb mortality. The surveys were completed by stakeholders either on the website, by e-mail or written mail or during sheep stakeholder events. Key challenges to improving ewe fertility included ewe body condition, nutrition and grassland management, flock health, and ewe lamb management. Reducing lamb mortality was primarily hindered by challenges related to lambing preparation, shed management, nutrition, labour, and hygiene. The findings suggest that despite diverse production systems, common challenges exist across Europe and Turkey. Addressing these challenges through the dissemination of best management practices can significantly enhance flock productivity. This study provides valuable insights into shared farmer experiences and underscores the importance of knowledge exchange across regions.
{"title":"Increasing ewe productivity - challenges of sheep stakeholders across Europe and Turkey","authors":"Bríd McClearn , Jean-Marc Gautier , Claire Morgan-Davies , Ignacia Beltrán de Heredia , Roberto Ruiz , Antonello Carta , Sezen Ocak Yetişgin , Dinu Gavojdian , Cathy M. Dwyer , Timothy W.J. Keady","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105852","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105852","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Improving ewe reproductive success and lamb survivability is essential for enhancing flock productivity, farm profitability, and the self-sufficiency of sheep meat and milk production. This study aimed to identify the perceived challenges to improving ewe productivity, through efficient reproduction, gestation, and reducing lamb mortality and determine if these challenges differ between countries. A 22-question survey (14 closed, 8 open-ended) was conducted in 2017 across seven countries participating in the SheepNet project (France, Ireland, Italy, Romania, Spain, UK, and Turkey). A number of press releases were circulated in each of the seven SheepNet countries making stakeholders aware of the survey and asking them to identify their challenges to improving ewe productivity through efficient reproduction, gestation and reduced lamb mortality. The surveys were completed by stakeholders either on the website, by e-mail or written mail or during sheep stakeholder events. Key challenges to improving ewe fertility included ewe body condition, nutrition and grassland management, flock health, and ewe lamb management. Reducing lamb mortality was primarily hindered by challenges related to lambing preparation, shed management, nutrition, labour, and hygiene. The findings suggest that despite diverse production systems, common challenges exist across Europe and Turkey. Addressing these challenges through the dissemination of best management practices can significantly enhance flock productivity. This study provides valuable insights into shared farmer experiences and underscores the importance of knowledge exchange across regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"302 ","pages":"Article 105852"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145517002","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-10-16DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105841
Valérie Schumacher , Markus Rodehutscord , Karl-Heinz Südekum , Saskia Kehraus
Amino acids (AA) are essential nutrients for diverse processes in the pig’s body. The utilisation of AA depends on their digestibility and absorption. Therefore, methods to determine reliably the AA supply to pigs to sustain performance and animal health are critical for precise feed evaluation. The evaluation of AA supply has so far been based on in vivo determination of standardised precaecal digestible (pcd) AA (pcdAA) and in vitro estimates of pcdAA applying time-consuming and complex laboratory methods. The objective of this study was to develop and establish a rapid laboratory method for estimating pcdAA based on the determination of AA insoluble in neutral-detergent (ND) or acid-detergent (AD) (NDIAA, ADIAA). The laboratory method used the same procedure which was previously applied to estimate standardised pcd crude protein (pcdCP). The hypothesis was that the method was similarly suitable to estimate pcdAA. A sample pool of 74 feed ingredients (cereal grains, differently heat-treated legume grains) was available on which in vivo pcdAA were determined in cannulated pigs. Amino acids in feed ingredients and in ND or AD residues of feed ingredients were determined by an HPLC method. The concentrations (g/kg dry matter) of ND- and AD-soluble AA (NDSAA, ADSAA) were calculated by difference to total AA in feed. For the estimation of the concentrations of in vivo pcdAA for total AA and the entire dataset (n = 74), a linear relationship was established between the concentrations of NDSAA or ADSAA and the in vivo pcdAA: y = 0.823 (standard error [SE] 0.018) x + 10.52 (SE 4.420), where y represents the in vivo pcdAA (g/kg dry matter) and x represents the NDSAA (cereal grains) or ADSAA (protein feeds) value (g/kg dry matter). The coefficient of determination (R²) of this equation was 0.968 and ranged from 0.895 to 0.984 for the 17 individual AA. This study shows that in vivo pcdAA values can be estimated following the same standardised and rapid laboratory procedure previously established for pcdCP, based on chemical analyses, namely determination of NDIAA and ADIAA, from which NDSAA and ADSAA values are calculated.
氨基酸（AA）是猪体内各种过程的必需营养素。AA的利用取决于它们的消化率和吸收率。因此，确定可靠的AA供应以维持猪的生产性能和动物健康的方法对于精确的饲料评估至关重要。到目前为止，对AA供应的评估是基于标准化的粪前可消化（pcd） AA （pcdAA）的体内测定，以及采用耗时且复杂的实验室方法对pcdAA的体外估计。本研究的目的是在测定不溶于中性洗涤剂（ND）或酸性洗涤剂（AD）的AA （NDIAA， ADIAA）的基础上，建立一种快速测定pcdAA的实验室方法。实验室方法使用了先前用于估计标准化pcd粗蛋白（pcdCP）的相同程序。假设该方法同样适用于估计pcdAA。采用74种饲料原料（谷物、不同热处理的豆科谷物）作为样品池，对空心猪体内pcdAA进行了测定。采用高效液相色谱法测定饲料原料中的氨基酸和饲料原料中ND或AD残留量。通过与饲料中总AA的差值计算ND-和ad -可溶性AA （NDSAA、ADSAA）的浓度（g/kg干物质）。为了估计总AA和整个数据集（n = 74）的体内pcdAA浓度，NDSAA或ADSAA浓度与体内pcdAA之间建立了线性关系：y = 0.823（标准误差[SE] 0.018） x + 10.52 (SE 4.420)，其中y表示体内pcdAA （g/kg干物质），x表示NDSAA（谷物）或ADSAA（蛋白质饲料）值（g/kg干物质）。该方程的决定系数（R²）为0.968,17个AA的决定系数范围为0.895 ~ 0.984。本研究表明，体内pcdAA值可以根据先前为pcdCP建立的相同的标准化和快速实验室程序进行估计，基于化学分析，即测定NDIAA和ADIAA，由此计算NDSAA和ADSAA值。
{"title":"A rapid laboratory method for estimating the standardised precaecal digestible amino acids in pig feeds","authors":"Valérie Schumacher , Markus Rodehutscord , Karl-Heinz Südekum , Saskia Kehraus","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105841","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105841","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Amino acids (AA) are essential nutrients for diverse processes in the pig’s body. The utilisation of AA depends on their digestibility and absorption. Therefore, methods to determine reliably the AA supply to pigs to sustain performance and animal health are critical for precise feed evaluation. The evaluation of AA supply has so far been based on <em>in vivo</em> determination of standardised precaecal digestible (pcd) AA (pcdAA) and <em>in vitro</em> estimates of pcdAA applying time-consuming and complex laboratory methods. The objective of this study was to develop and establish a rapid laboratory method for estimating pcdAA based on the determination of AA insoluble in neutral-detergent (ND) or acid-detergent (AD) (NDIAA, ADIAA). The laboratory method used the same procedure which was previously applied to estimate standardised pcd crude protein (pcdCP). The hypothesis was that the method was similarly suitable to estimate pcdAA. A sample pool of 74 feed ingredients (cereal grains, differently heat-treated legume grains) was available on which <em>in vivo</em> pcdAA were determined in cannulated pigs. Amino acids in feed ingredients and in ND or AD residues of feed ingredients were determined by an HPLC method. The concentrations (g/kg dry matter) of ND- and AD-soluble AA (NDSAA, ADSAA) were calculated by difference to total AA in feed. For the estimation of the concentrations of <em>in vivo</em> pcdAA for total AA and the entire dataset (<em>n</em> = 74), a linear relationship was established between the concentrations of NDSAA or ADSAA and the <em>in vivo</em> pcdAA: y = 0.823 (standard error [SE] 0.018) x + 10.52 (SE 4.420), where y represents the <em>in vivo</em> pcdAA (g/kg dry matter) and x represents the NDSAA (cereal grains) or ADSAA (protein feeds) value (g/kg dry matter). The coefficient of determination (R²) of this equation was 0.968 and ranged from 0.895 to 0.984 for the 17 individual AA. This study shows that <em>in vivo</em> pcdAA values can be estimated following the same standardised and rapid laboratory procedure previously established for pcdCP, based on chemical analyses, namely determination of NDIAA and ADIAA, from which NDSAA and ADSAA values are calculated.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"302 ","pages":"Article 105841"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145466250","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-10-11DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105837
Clodagh V. Ryan , Deirdre C. Purfield , David Kenny , Paul Crosson , Ross D. Evans
Genetic selection presents a long-term opportunity to reduce enteric methane emissions in beef cattle. This study evaluated the effect of incorporating an enteric methane production trait into the Irish Terminal Index, an index that is typical of global terminal-type indexes and quantified its impact on methane output and other economically important traits. At present, the Irish Terminal Index incorporates a Carbon sub-index based on life cycle assessment in an effort to reduce farm carbon emissions. Selection index scenarios were modelled to reflect an index with no environmental consideration, the current status quo, the inclusion of a direct enteric methane trait and finally the impact of changes in carbon pricing. Genetic parameters were derived from a national multi-breed dataset of 1508 beef animals with enteric methane phenotypes. Selection based on the current index which includes a lifecycle carbon weighting, increased daily enteric methane emissions by up to 2.14 g/day, while the inclusion of a direct enteric methane trait reversed the response, with predicted reductions of 0.22g/day and 4.20 g/day depending on carbon price. Associated changes included a 13.81 kg increase in carcass weight response and a 0.33 kg reduction in feed intake per animal under the highest environmental weighting (Carbon valued at €160/tonne and a direct enteric methane trait). Scaled to the national herd, this would equate to an annual reduction of approximately 27,400 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent and an opportunity cost of 1311 tonnes of carcass output. Selection direction remained favourable across all production traits, with minimal impact on calving, docility, and conformation traits. These results demonstrate that enteric methane can be incorporated into the national breeding goal with measurable reductions in emissions and limited trade-offs in economically relevant performance traits.
{"title":"Refining Irish breeding goals for sustainable suckler systems through the incorporation of an enteric methane emissions trait","authors":"Clodagh V. Ryan , Deirdre C. Purfield , David Kenny , Paul Crosson , Ross D. Evans","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105837","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105837","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Genetic selection presents a long-term opportunity to reduce enteric methane emissions in beef cattle. This study evaluated the effect of incorporating an enteric methane production trait into the Irish Terminal Index, an index that is typical of global terminal-type indexes and quantified its impact on methane output and other economically important traits. At present, the Irish Terminal Index incorporates a Carbon sub-index based on life cycle assessment in an effort to reduce farm carbon emissions. Selection index scenarios were modelled to reflect an index with no environmental consideration, the current status quo, the inclusion of a direct enteric methane trait and finally the impact of changes in carbon pricing. Genetic parameters were derived from a national multi-breed dataset of 1508 beef animals with enteric methane phenotypes. Selection based on the current index which includes a lifecycle carbon weighting, increased daily enteric methane emissions by up to 2.14 g/day, while the inclusion of a direct enteric methane trait reversed the response, with predicted reductions of 0.22g/day and 4.20 g/day depending on carbon price. Associated changes included a 13.81 kg increase in carcass weight response and a 0.33 kg reduction in feed intake per animal under the highest environmental weighting (Carbon valued at €160/tonne and a direct enteric methane trait). Scaled to the national herd, this would equate to an annual reduction of approximately 27,400 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent and an opportunity cost of 1311 tonnes of carcass output. Selection direction remained favourable across all production traits, with minimal impact on calving, docility, and conformation traits. These results demonstrate that enteric methane can be incorporated into the national breeding goal with measurable reductions in emissions and limited trade-offs in economically relevant performance traits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"302 ","pages":"Article 105837"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145364635","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-10-02DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105828
Nathalia da Silva Costa , Renato Fontes Guimarães , Vinícius Silva Junqueira , Vanessa Peripolli , José Bento Sterman Ferraz , Felipe Pimentel , Daniel Pimentel , Luís Telo da Gama , Danielle de Faria , Rafael Núñez-Domínguez , Concepta McManus
The slick hair phenotype in cattle is a thermotolerance trait of increasing relevance in the context of climate change. This study evaluated 3233 Montana Tropical cattle to investigate environmental and spatial factors associated with genetic variation in the genomic region linked to the slick hair trait and to identify candidate genes potentially involved in thermotolerance. A panel of 120 SNPs spanning 5.5 Mb of the slick hair region on BTA20 was analyzed using logistic regression against six environmental variables: temperature, humidity, altitude, precipitation, NDVI, and solar radiation. Spatial genetic structure was assessed through Mantel tests, spatial autocorrelation, genetic landscape modeling, and Monmonier's algorithm. Eight SNPs were significantly associated with at least four environmental variables, with radiation and humidity showing the strongest effects. Gene annotation revealed five key genes—PRLR, RAD1, BRIX1, TTC23L, and DNAJC21—and functional annotation indicated roles in immune function, DNA repair, and ribosome biogenesis. Spatial analyses detected fine-scale genetic structure and multiple genetic barriers, particularly in southern Brazil, suggesting the combined effects of environmental selection and region-specific breeding practices. These findings enhance understanding of environmental influences on the slick hair genomic region and provide markers for breeding strategies aimed at improving heat tolerance in tropical cattle populations.
{"title":"Landscape genomics of thermotolerance: Environmental and genetic determinants of the slick hair phenotype in Montana Tropical cattle","authors":"Nathalia da Silva Costa , Renato Fontes Guimarães , Vinícius Silva Junqueira , Vanessa Peripolli , José Bento Sterman Ferraz , Felipe Pimentel , Daniel Pimentel , Luís Telo da Gama , Danielle de Faria , Rafael Núñez-Domínguez , Concepta McManus","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105828","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105828","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The slick hair phenotype in cattle is a thermotolerance trait of increasing relevance in the context of climate change. This study evaluated 3233 Montana Tropical cattle to investigate environmental and spatial factors associated with genetic variation in the genomic region linked to the slick hair trait and to identify candidate genes potentially involved in thermotolerance. A panel of 120 SNPs spanning 5.5 Mb of the slick hair region on BTA20 was analyzed using logistic regression against six environmental variables: temperature, humidity, altitude, precipitation, NDVI, and solar radiation. Spatial genetic structure was assessed through Mantel tests, spatial autocorrelation, genetic landscape modeling, and Monmonier's algorithm. Eight SNPs were significantly associated with at least four environmental variables, with radiation and humidity showing the strongest effects. Gene annotation revealed five key genes—<em>PRLR, RAD1, BRIX1, TTC23L</em>, and <em>DNAJC21</em>—and functional annotation indicated roles in immune function, DNA repair, and ribosome biogenesis. Spatial analyses detected fine-scale genetic structure and multiple genetic barriers, particularly in southern Brazil, suggesting the combined effects of environmental selection and region-specific breeding practices. These findings enhance understanding of environmental influences on the slick hair genomic region and provide markers for breeding strategies aimed at improving heat tolerance in tropical cattle populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"302 ","pages":"Article 105828"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145269805","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-10-08DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105831
M. Kasprowicz-Potocka , A. Zaworska-Zakrzewska , D. Łodyga , A. Ludwiczak , J. Składanowska-Baryza , A. Cieślak , A. Czech , G. Cieleń , M. Muzolf-Panek , E. Sell-Kubiak
Pork is a major source of dietary fat but has a poor n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratio. Feeding n-3 PUFA-rich sources to pigs can improve this ratio, but it may also lead to oxidation-related changes affecting meat quality and shelf life. The study investigated the effect of dietary mixture (LAM) composed of linseed, apple pomace, and milk thistle on the growth performance, fatty acid content, and health status of fattening pigs. Ninety pigs (31 kg of body weight) were divided into three groups: Control (CON) - diet without LAM, LAM-F and LAM-GF with 5 % LAM supplement during the finisher phase only or in grower and finisher, respectively. At the end of the experiment, 14 pigs per group were slaughtered, and muscle samples were analysed for fatty acid composition, oxidative stability, and quality parameters. Daily weight gain were similar in total fattening period (P > 0.05). LAM supplementation increased n-3 PUFA content and reduced the n-6/n-3 ratio in meat. Moreover, the LAM diet improved liver antioxidant enzyme activity, but LAM-F pigs had higher malondialdehyde levels in the blood, indicating more pronounced lipid oxidation. LAM also reduced inflammatory markers (interleukins) and increased antioxidant-related compounds in the liver and blood, suggesting health benefits, increased the change in thaw loss, and tenderness of meat stored for 3 or 7 days under refrigerated conditions. The LAM diet effectively improved the fatty acid profile of pork and enhanced oxidative stability and immune function without negatively affecting growth performance.
{"title":"Dietary linseed with apple pomace and milk thistle improves fatty acids profile of pork and its oxidative status","authors":"M. Kasprowicz-Potocka , A. Zaworska-Zakrzewska , D. Łodyga , A. Ludwiczak , J. Składanowska-Baryza , A. Cieślak , A. Czech , G. Cieleń , M. Muzolf-Panek , E. Sell-Kubiak","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105831","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105831","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pork is a major source of dietary fat but has a poor <em>n</em>-6/<em>n</em>-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratio. Feeding <em>n</em>-3 PUFA-rich sources to pigs can improve this ratio, but it may also lead to oxidation-related changes affecting meat quality and shelf life. The study investigated the effect of dietary mixture (LAM) composed of linseed, apple pomace, and milk thistle on the growth performance, fatty acid content, and health status of fattening pigs. Ninety pigs (31 kg of body weight) were divided into three groups: Control (CON) - diet without LAM, LAM-F and LAM-GF with 5 % LAM supplement during the finisher phase only or in grower and finisher, respectively. At the end of the experiment, 14 pigs per group were slaughtered, and muscle samples were analysed for fatty acid composition, oxidative stability, and quality parameters. Daily weight gain were similar in total fattening period (<em>P</em> > 0.05). LAM supplementation increased <em>n</em>-3 PUFA content and reduced the <em>n</em>-6/<em>n</em>-3 ratio in meat. Moreover, the LAM diet improved liver antioxidant enzyme activity, but LAM-F pigs had higher malondialdehyde levels in the blood, indicating more pronounced lipid oxidation. LAM also reduced inflammatory markers (interleukins) and increased antioxidant-related compounds in the liver and blood, suggesting health benefits, increased the change in thaw loss, and tenderness of meat stored for 3 or 7 days under refrigerated conditions. The LAM diet effectively improved the fatty acid profile of pork and enhanced oxidative stability and immune function without negatively affecting growth performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"302 ","pages":"Article 105831"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145321714","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-10-08DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105833
NM Elbanhawy , S El-Kassas , MM. Sharaf , IA Elkhaiat , HA Basha , MI. Abo-Samaha
<div><div>The impact of varying doses of water-soluble <em>E. longifolia</em> root extract was evaluated on growth performance, blood biochemistry, antioxidant enzymes, histology, and expression of some related genes in brown- and white-feathered Japanese quails. Seven hundred and twenty 2-wk old quails (360 brown- and 360 white-feathered quails, 180 males and 180 females each) were randomly assigned to 8 treatments with 3 replicates having 30 quails per replicate (15 females and 15 males from the same quail’s variety). The <em>E. longifolia</em> was incorporated in drinking water at 0, 125, 250, and 500 mg <em>E. longifolia</em>/L for treatment 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. This experiment lasted for 4 wk. Drinking water with <em>E. longifolia</em>, especially at 125 mg <em>E. longifolia</em>/L increased body gains and feed consumption as well as gain-to-feed ratio (linear; quadratic, cubic, <em>P</em> < 0.05) with brown females, compared to brown males and both sex of white-feathered quails, displayed greater improvement. Growth-related genes: growth hormone receptors and insulin growth factor-1, and ghrelin mRNA concentrations were upregulated while leptin mRNA copies were reduced with <em>E. longifolia</em> (linear; quadratic, cubic, <em>P</em> < 0.001). Increasing the dose of <em>E. longifolia</em> reduced water consumption (linear, <em>P</em> < 0.001). The brown-feathered quails drank more water compared to the white-feathered ones, especially with increasing the <em>E. longifolia</em> supplementation rate (<em>P</em> = 0.004). <em>E. longifolia</em> also caused distinct improvement of quails’ immunity manifested by a reduced heterophils-to-lymphocytes ratio (quadratic, <em>P</em> = 0.005) and increases in the superoxide dismutase (cubic, <em>P</em> = 0.015), catalase and glutathione peroxidase enzyme activities and their mRNA copies (linear; quadratic, cubic, <em>P</em> < 0.001). Additionally, <em>E. longifolia</em> supplementation caused increases in cholesterol concentrations in white-feathered females and males and brown females while increased triglycerides concentrations, particularly at 125 mg/L in all quails except in brown female, <em>E. longifolia</em> reduced its concentration (quadratic, cubic, <em>P</em> < 0.05). Increasing supplementation dose to 500 mg <em>E. longifolia</em>/L lowered these concentrations compared to the lower doses. Incorporating <em>E. longifolia</em> also caused increases in the intestinal villi lengths (linear, <em>P</em> < 0.001; quadratic, <em>P</em> < 0.05) with fat vacuolation in hepatic tissue. Moreover, reduction in estrogen (linear, <em>P</em> < 0.001) and changes in testosterone concentrations (quadratic, <em>P</em> < 0.05) were measured with <em>E. longifolia</em> treatment. In conclusion, <em>E. longifolia</em> root extract could be used as a potential alternative osteogenic herbal additive to enhance bird’s performance. Its impacts in quail’s drinking water significan
{"title":"Effect of water supplementation with Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali) root extract on growth performance, carcass characteristics, antioxidant responses, and gene expression in brown and white Japanese quails","authors":"NM Elbanhawy , S El-Kassas , MM. Sharaf , IA Elkhaiat , HA Basha , MI. Abo-Samaha","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105833","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105833","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The impact of varying doses of water-soluble <em>E. longifolia</em> root extract was evaluated on growth performance, blood biochemistry, antioxidant enzymes, histology, and expression of some related genes in brown- and white-feathered Japanese quails. Seven hundred and twenty 2-wk old quails (360 brown- and 360 white-feathered quails, 180 males and 180 females each) were randomly assigned to 8 treatments with 3 replicates having 30 quails per replicate (15 females and 15 males from the same quail’s variety). The <em>E. longifolia</em> was incorporated in drinking water at 0, 125, 250, and 500 mg <em>E. longifolia</em>/L for treatment 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. This experiment lasted for 4 wk. Drinking water with <em>E. longifolia</em>, especially at 125 mg <em>E. longifolia</em>/L increased body gains and feed consumption as well as gain-to-feed ratio (linear; quadratic, cubic, <em>P</em> < 0.05) with brown females, compared to brown males and both sex of white-feathered quails, displayed greater improvement. Growth-related genes: growth hormone receptors and insulin growth factor-1, and ghrelin mRNA concentrations were upregulated while leptin mRNA copies were reduced with <em>E. longifolia</em> (linear; quadratic, cubic, <em>P</em> < 0.001). Increasing the dose of <em>E. longifolia</em> reduced water consumption (linear, <em>P</em> < 0.001). The brown-feathered quails drank more water compared to the white-feathered ones, especially with increasing the <em>E. longifolia</em> supplementation rate (<em>P</em> = 0.004). <em>E. longifolia</em> also caused distinct improvement of quails’ immunity manifested by a reduced heterophils-to-lymphocytes ratio (quadratic, <em>P</em> = 0.005) and increases in the superoxide dismutase (cubic, <em>P</em> = 0.015), catalase and glutathione peroxidase enzyme activities and their mRNA copies (linear; quadratic, cubic, <em>P</em> < 0.001). Additionally, <em>E. longifolia</em> supplementation caused increases in cholesterol concentrations in white-feathered females and males and brown females while increased triglycerides concentrations, particularly at 125 mg/L in all quails except in brown female, <em>E. longifolia</em> reduced its concentration (quadratic, cubic, <em>P</em> < 0.05). Increasing supplementation dose to 500 mg <em>E. longifolia</em>/L lowered these concentrations compared to the lower doses. Incorporating <em>E. longifolia</em> also caused increases in the intestinal villi lengths (linear, <em>P</em> < 0.001; quadratic, <em>P</em> < 0.05) with fat vacuolation in hepatic tissue. Moreover, reduction in estrogen (linear, <em>P</em> < 0.001) and changes in testosterone concentrations (quadratic, <em>P</em> < 0.05) were measured with <em>E. longifolia</em> treatment. In conclusion, <em>E. longifolia</em> root extract could be used as a potential alternative osteogenic herbal additive to enhance bird’s performance. Its impacts in quail’s drinking water significan","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"302 ","pages":"Article 105833"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145321709","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The genetic improvement of dairy cattle for tropical environments demands a balance between high productivity and adaptability. Although previous studies have explored genomic signatures in various cattle breeds, limited insights exist for the genetically diverse Thai multibreed dairy cattle population developed through crossbreeding of multiple Bos taurus and Bos indicus breeds with Holstein. This study aimed to uncover selection signatures and candidate genes underpinning adaptation and production traits in this population. Using genotype data from 2661 animals (73,762 SNPs), population structure was revealed via Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components (DAPC), identifying four genetically distinct groups. Integrated haplotype score (iHS) analysis identified 376 to 500 genomic regions under selection across groups, harboring 962 to 1657 genes. Seven strong candidate genes – KLF12, MAP2K6, SPATA16, LAMA2, SLC25A28, WNT7A, and HHIPL2 – were linked to milk yield, fat synthesis, immune response, and adaptation. Annotation revealed 5036 to 7970 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) per group, with 26.53 % to 28–84 % overlapping with milk traits in groups 1 to 3, and 24.96 % with meat traits in group 4. The QTL enrichment highlighted significant traits such as milk fat yield, immunoglobulin G levels, tick resistance, and coat color, reflecting environmental selection pressures. These findings demonstrate how artificial selection shaped the genomic landscape of Thai dairy cattle, influencing traits critical for productivity, health, and climate resilience. This study provides a foundation for genomic selection strategies tailored to tropical dairy systems and underscores the potential of genetic marker information to enhance dairy cattle efficiency, productivity, and sustainability under region-specific challenges.
热带环境下奶牛的遗传改良需要在高产和适应性之间取得平衡。虽然以前的研究已经探索了各种牛品种的基因组特征，但通过将多个牛品种和牛品种与荷斯坦杂交而形成的遗传多样性泰国多品种奶牛种群的见解有限。本研究旨在揭示该种群适应和生产性状的选择特征和候选基因。利用2661只动物（73762个snp）的基因型数据，通过主成分判别分析（Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components， DAPC）揭示了种群结构，确定了4个遗传上不同的群体。综合单倍型评分（iHS）分析确定了376至500个基因组区域，其中包含962至1657个基因。七个强有力的候选基因——KLF12、MAP2K6、SPATA16、LAMA2、SLC25A28、WNT7A和HHIPL2——与产奶量、脂肪合成、免疫反应和适应有关。每组共有5036 ~ 7970个qtl，其中1 ~ 3组与乳性状重叠率为26.53% ~ 28 ~ 84%，4组与肉性状重叠率为24.96%。QTL富集突出了乳脂产量、免疫球蛋白G水平、蜱虫抗性和毛色等显著性状，反映了环境选择压力。这些发现证明了人工选择如何塑造了泰国奶牛的基因组景观，影响了对生产力、健康和气候适应能力至关重要的性状。该研究为针对热带奶牛系统的基因组选择策略提供了基础，并强调了遗传标记信息在提高奶牛效率、生产力和区域特定挑战下的可持续性方面的潜力。
{"title":"Genomic scans for selection signatures revealed candidate genes for adaptation and production traits in the Thai multibreed dairy cattle population","authors":"Thawee Laodim , Skorn Koonawootrittriron , Mauricio A. Elzo , Thanathip Suwanasopee , Danai Jattawa , Mattaneeya Sarakul","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105803","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105803","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The genetic improvement of dairy cattle for tropical environments demands a balance between high productivity and adaptability. Although previous studies have explored genomic signatures in various cattle breeds, limited insights exist for the genetically diverse Thai multibreed dairy cattle population developed through crossbreeding of multiple <em>Bos taurus</em> and <em>Bos indicus</em> breeds with Holstein. This study aimed to uncover selection signatures and candidate genes underpinning adaptation and production traits in this population. Using genotype data from 2661 animals (73,762 SNPs), population structure was revealed via Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components (DAPC), identifying four genetically distinct groups. Integrated haplotype score (iHS) analysis identified 376 to 500 genomic regions under selection across groups, harboring 962 to 1657 genes. Seven strong candidate genes – <em>KLF12, MAP2K6, SPATA16, LAMA2, SLC25A28, WNT7A</em>, and <em>HHIPL2</em> – were linked to milk yield, fat synthesis, immune response, and adaptation. Annotation revealed 5036 to 7970 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) per group, with 26.53 % to 28–84 % overlapping with milk traits in groups 1 to 3, and 24.96 % with meat traits in group 4. The QTL enrichment highlighted significant traits such as milk fat yield, immunoglobulin G levels, tick resistance, and coat color, reflecting environmental selection pressures. These findings demonstrate how artificial selection shaped the genomic landscape of Thai dairy cattle, influencing traits critical for productivity, health, and climate resilience. This study provides a foundation for genomic selection strategies tailored to tropical dairy systems and underscores the potential of genetic marker information to enhance dairy cattle efficiency, productivity, and sustainability under region-specific challenges.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"301 ","pages":"Article 105803"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144864750","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2025-09-13DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105820
Camila S. Mussi , Gabriel C. Medeiros , Rafael Espigolan , Fernando Baldi , Marcio R. Silva , José D. Guimarães , Elisangela C. Matos , Joanir P. Eler , Tamires Miranda Neto , José Bento S. Ferraz , Luiz F. Brito
Nellore cattle (Bos taurus indicus), the predominant beef cattle breed raised in Brazil, has substantial economic importance in the global beef market. Ultrasonography is commonly used to measure carcass traits, which facilitate the genetic evaluation of live animals and provides indicators of meat quality. Male reproductive efficiency assessed by semen quality and scrotal circumference traits directly influences farm profitability. This study estimated variance components and genetic correlations between ultrasound-based carcass and semen quality and scrotal circumference traits in Nellore cattle. We used a dataset of 116,011 animals with phenotypic records, 13,632 genotyped animals, and a pedigree with 635,175 animals. Heritability estimates for scrotal circumference at 18 and 24 months were moderate (0.39 ± 0.008 and 0.38 ± 0.02, respectively). Semen quality traits, including motility, vigor, and mass activity were found to be lowly heritable with estimates ranging from 0.03 ± 0.01 to 0.05 ± 0.01. The heritability estimates for sperm defects were also low and ranged from 0.01 ± 0.007 to 0.12 ± 0.02. Carcass traits, including ribeye area and rump fat thickness, were moderately heritable (0.34 ± 0.05 and 0.39 ± 0.06), while subcutaneous fat thickness had a heritability of 0.18 ± 0.04. Genetic correlations between carcass with semen quality and scrotal circumference traits were of low to moderate magnitude and unfavorable. These findings indicate that carcass traits can be improved through genetic selection and the generally low genetic correlations with sperm quality traits and scrotal circumference traits suggest that selection for improved carcass traits, measured using ultrasonography technology, is expected to have minimal impact on semen quality. Therefore, simultaneous selection for both trait groups is recommended to ensure optimal long-term genetic improvement in Nellore cattle breeding programs.
{"title":"Genetic correlations between carcass traits measured by ultrasonography and semen quality traits in Nellore cattle incorporating genomic information","authors":"Camila S. Mussi , Gabriel C. Medeiros , Rafael Espigolan , Fernando Baldi , Marcio R. Silva , José D. Guimarães , Elisangela C. Matos , Joanir P. Eler , Tamires Miranda Neto , José Bento S. Ferraz , Luiz F. Brito","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105820","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105820","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nellore cattle (<em>Bos taurus indicus</em>), the predominant beef cattle breed raised in Brazil, has substantial economic importance in the global beef market. Ultrasonography is commonly used to measure carcass traits, which facilitate the genetic evaluation of live animals and provides indicators of meat quality. Male reproductive efficiency assessed by semen quality and scrotal circumference traits directly influences farm profitability. This study estimated variance components and genetic correlations between ultrasound-based carcass and semen quality and scrotal circumference traits in Nellore cattle. We used a dataset of 116,011 animals with phenotypic records, 13,632 genotyped animals, and a pedigree with 635,175 animals. Heritability estimates for scrotal circumference at 18 and 24 months were moderate (0.39 ± 0.008 and 0.38 ± 0.02, respectively). Semen quality traits, including motility, vigor, and mass activity were found to be lowly heritable with estimates ranging from 0.03 ± 0.01 to 0.05 ± 0.01. The heritability estimates for sperm defects were also low and ranged from 0.01 ± 0.007 to 0.12 ± 0.02. Carcass traits, including ribeye area and rump fat thickness, were moderately heritable (0.34 ± 0.05 and 0.39 ± 0.06), while subcutaneous fat thickness had a heritability of 0.18 ± 0.04. Genetic correlations between carcass with semen quality and scrotal circumference traits were of low to moderate magnitude and unfavorable. These findings indicate that carcass traits can be improved through genetic selection and the generally low genetic correlations with sperm quality traits and scrotal circumference traits suggest that selection for improved carcass traits, measured using ultrasonography technology, is expected to have minimal impact on semen quality. Therefore, simultaneous selection for both trait groups is recommended to ensure optimal long-term genetic improvement in Nellore cattle breeding programs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"301 ","pages":"Article 105820"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145095992","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2025-08-20DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105806
Yufen Jiang , Helin Li , Na Cheng , Yuchen Han , Qiue Xu , Mingjin Li , Muhammad Ameen Jamal , Jianxiong Guo , Honghui Li , Hong-Jiang Wei , Wenmin Cheng
In vitro matured oocytes are an indispensable biological material for reproductive biology, as well as agricultural and biomedical research. However, the mechanisms underlying the oocyte maturation in vitro are not yet fully elucidated. Providing a systematic and comprehensive explanation of the complex regulatory network of oocyte maturation is challenging when relying on a single omics data. Therefore, we conducted transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic analyses to investigate the mechanism underlying the porcine oocytes maturation. The results revealed a total of 2624 differentially expressed genes, 127 proteins and 17 and metabolites. Among these, 759 genes were uniquely expressed in GV-stage oocytes and 336 genes were exclusively expressed in MII-stage oocytes. Genes highly expressed at GV-stage were primarily involved in cytoplasmic-related processes, whereas those at MII-stage were associated with nuclear meiotic division. A total of 22 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were upregulated, while 105 were downregulated in the MII-stage oocyte compared to GV-stage oocytes. Furthermore, 65 proteins including RAB22A, ITPRID2, KIF14, LAMB1, BTG4 were predominantly expressed at MII-stage oocytes. Similarly, six differential metabolites (DMs) were upregulated, while eleven were downregulated in the MII-stage oocytes. Integrated transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome analyses revealed that these differentially expressed components were enriched in glutathione metabolism pathway, highlighting the regulatory roles of DNA methylation, histone acetylation, nuclear transport, translational control, and post-translational modification in oocyte maturation. In conclusion, this multi-omics approach identified key regulators of porcine oocyte maturation in vitro, providing some theoretical basis for understanding the regulatory mechanisms involved.
{"title":"Unveiling regulatory network of porcine oocyte IVM using integrated multi-omics","authors":"Yufen Jiang , Helin Li , Na Cheng , Yuchen Han , Qiue Xu , Mingjin Li , Muhammad Ameen Jamal , Jianxiong Guo , Honghui Li , Hong-Jiang Wei , Wenmin Cheng","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105806","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105806","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>In vitro</em> matured oocytes are an indispensable biological material for reproductive biology, as well as agricultural and biomedical research. However, the mechanisms underlying the oocyte maturation <em>in vitro</em> are not yet fully elucidated. Providing a systematic and comprehensive explanation of the complex regulatory network of oocyte maturation is challenging when relying on a single omics data. Therefore, we conducted transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic analyses to investigate the mechanism underlying the porcine oocytes maturation. The results revealed a total of 2624 differentially expressed genes, 127 proteins and 17 and metabolites. Among these, 759 genes were uniquely expressed in GV-stage oocytes and 336 genes were exclusively expressed in MII-stage oocytes. Genes highly expressed at GV-stage were primarily involved in cytoplasmic-related processes, whereas those at MII-stage were associated with nuclear meiotic division. A total of 22 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were upregulated, while 105 were downregulated in the MII-stage oocyte compared to GV-stage oocytes. Furthermore, 65 proteins including RAB22A, ITPRID2, KIF14, LAMB1, BTG4 were predominantly expressed at MII-stage oocytes. Similarly, six differential metabolites (DMs) were upregulated, while eleven were downregulated in the MII-stage oocytes. Integrated transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome analyses revealed that these differentially expressed components were enriched in glutathione metabolism pathway, highlighting the regulatory roles of DNA methylation, histone acetylation, nuclear transport, translational control, and post-translational modification in oocyte maturation. In conclusion, this multi-omics approach identified key regulators of porcine oocyte maturation <em>in vitro</em>, providing some theoretical basis for understanding the regulatory mechanisms involved.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"301 ","pages":"Article 105806"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144904305","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2025-09-02DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105816
Bianca F. Metallo, Lucas C. Spetic Da Selva, Arieli D. Da Fonseca, Richard T. Niblett, Edgar O. Aviles-Rosa
For the past 25 years, the United States and European Union swine industries have differed in their welfare standards related to weaning age. Thus, the optimal weaning age for piglets continues to be a subject of debate. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of weaning piglets at 3 and 4 weeks of age on a set of physiological, behavioral, and performance indicators of welfare. Sixteen litters (N = 160 piglets) were assigned to be weaned at approximately 3 (n = 80) or 4 (n = 80) weeks of age based on the sow’s farrowing date and balancing for sow parity. At weaning, piglets were blocked by weight and randomly housed in pens of 5 piglets. Blood samples were collected prior to weaning and at 24 hours and 7 days post-weaning. A subset of pens was video recorded for the first 48 hours post-weaning, and weight gain and feed intake were monitored for 28 days post-weaning. Piglets weaned at 3 weeks showed a higher neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (P < 0.001) at 24 hours post-weaning, and displayed less feeding behavior (P < 0.05) during the first 24 hours post-weaning, compared to piglets weaned at 4 weeks. Overall, piglets weaned at 3 weeks had lower average daily feed intake (P < 0.001) and lower average daily gain (P < 0.001) during the 28-day nursery phase. Our results indicate that weaning piglets at 4 weeks of age, as opposed to 3 weeks, has a positive impact not only on their performance, but also on behavioral and physiological indicators of welfare.
{"title":"The effect of weaning age on physiological, behavioral, and performance indicators of welfare in weaned piglets","authors":"Bianca F. Metallo, Lucas C. Spetic Da Selva, Arieli D. Da Fonseca, Richard T. Niblett, Edgar O. Aviles-Rosa","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105816","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105816","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>For the past 25 years, the United States and European Union swine industries have differed in their welfare standards related to weaning age. Thus, the optimal weaning age for piglets continues to be a subject of debate. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of weaning piglets at 3 and 4 weeks of age on a set of physiological, behavioral, and performance indicators of welfare. Sixteen litters (N = 160 piglets) were assigned to be weaned at approximately 3 (n = 80) or 4 (n = 80) weeks of age based on the sow’s farrowing date and balancing for sow parity. At weaning, piglets were blocked by weight and randomly housed in pens of 5 piglets. Blood samples were collected prior to weaning and at 24 hours and 7 days post-weaning. A subset of pens was video recorded for the first 48 hours post-weaning, and weight gain and feed intake were monitored for 28 days post-weaning. Piglets weaned at 3 weeks showed a higher neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (<em>P</em> < 0.001) at 24 hours post-weaning, and displayed less feeding behavior (<em>P</em> < 0.05) during the first 24 hours post-weaning, compared to piglets weaned at 4 weeks. Overall, piglets weaned at 3 weeks had lower average daily feed intake (<em>P</em> < 0.001) and lower average daily gain (<em>P</em> < 0.001) during the 28-day nursery phase. Our results indicate that weaning piglets at 4 weeks of age, as opposed to 3 weeks, has a positive impact not only on their performance, but also on behavioral and physiological indicators of welfare.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"301 ","pages":"Article 105816"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145045161","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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